Couch potatoes rejoice!

PILLS that mimic the benefits of exercise, without any of the hard work, could soon be available, scientists believe.

There are at least eight pills under development that aim to replicate some of the effects of physical training on our health.

While an “exercise pill” would be welcomed by couch potatoes, it could also be useful for those who are unable to exercise due to illness or paralysis.

Scientists from Beijing Sport University in China and the University of British Columbia in Canada reviewed the progress of the tablets, which contain different chemicals and work in different ways.

Some encourage the growth of muscle fibre, which improves endurance; others help blood vessels grow in muscles, which makes them work more effectively. Another chemical being looked at stimulates the creation of “good” brown fat, which burns away excess “bad” white fat.

The scientists said exercise pills “have a long road ahead” but that as we learn more about how exercise benefits us on a molecular level, “we will likely gain increased confidence” in creating pills with few side effects but improved efficacy. However, “nothing can fully substitute for physical exercise”.

One effect none of the pills under consideration can replicate is the stretching of blood vessels during exercise, which keeps them elastic and healthy and also triggers the release of a variety of helpful chemicals. – Daily Mail